Genioplasty – Chin Surgery

When the structure of the face is not properly balanced, it can negatively impact your entire appearance. In some individuals, the chin appears out of balance with the other facial features. Genioplasty, also known as chin surgery, is a procedure that can improve facial harmony by correcting the size and prominence of the chin. Whether your chin is small and weak, receded, prominent, or overly projected, genioplasty can adjust it to give your face a more equalised appearance.

Improving Your Chin

The face is divided into the upper third, middle third, and lower third. The lower third of the face is made up of the upper lip, lower lip, and chin area. When this lower third is small and receded or when it is overly prominent, the face may appear unbalanced. Chin surgery can correct the balance of the face so that the features blend together naturally and harmoniously.

Some individuals have a chin that appears small and weak. Weakness of the lower third of the face may be caused by a small chin (microgenia) or a chin that sits posteriorly (retrognathia). With either a chin implant or osseous genioplasty (sliding genioplasty), a weak chin can be augmented to strengthen this portion of the face. Doing so enhances the structure of the face and can greatly improve your overall appearance.

Some people may have an overly prominent or large chin (macrogenia). If the chin is unusually advanced in position or size, the lower third of the face may appear abnormally large in proportion to the middle and upper third of the face. With a chin reduction using the sliding genioplasty surgical approach, the chin is made smaller to appear more natural and balanced.

The appearance and structure of the face can affect your self-image in a profound way. When the chin or any other part of your face is lacking in appearance, your self-esteem can suffer as a result. Individuals who undergo chin surgery to improve the appearance of the chin can experience the by-products of genuine enhancement in self-image and self-confidence.

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Genioplasty Techniques

Chin Augmentation With an Implant

Uses a synthetic implant to enhance the size or prominence of the chin

Places the implant directly over the chin bone through an incision within the gum line

Has no visible scarring (scars are hidden inside the mouth)

Possible risk of implant infection or implant shifting after surgery

May be appropriate for individuals who need less than 4mm advancement of the chin

Sliding (Osseous) Genioplasty Chin Augmentation

Relocates a portion of the chin bone to correct a small or recessed chin

Places an incision in the gum line (called a gingivobuccal sulcus incision) to expose the chin bone

An oscillating saw divides the chin bone, and the lower portion of the chin bone is relocated using wires or a genioplasty plate made of prefabricated titanium

Permanently enhances chin prominence to improve facial balance

Has no visible scarring (scars are hidden inside the mouth)

Can also be used to correct chin asymmetry

Best for individuals who need greater than 4mm advancement of the chin

This technique is the most frequently performed genioplasty procedure

Sliding (Osseous) Genioplasty Chin Reduction

Reshapes, relocates, or removes a portion of the chin bone to reduce chin prominence

Places an incision in the gum line (called a gingivobuccal sulcus incision) to expose the chin bone

An oscillating saw divides the chin bone, and the lower portion of the chin bone is reshaped, trimmed, and repositioned using wires or a genioplasty plate made of prefabricated titanium

Permanently reduces an oversized chin to improve facial balance

Has no visible scarring (scars are hidden inside the mouth)

Can also be used to correct chin asymmetry

Genioplasty Concerns

Recovery

The recovery experience will vary depending on whether you underwent sliding genioplasty or received a chin implant. After chin augmentation with an implant, the recovery is short with light bruising or swelling and resolves mostly within one week. After sliding genioplasty, the recovery may last slightly longer as the chin bone needs time to heal. A special dressing may be applied to the chin during the early days of recovery. You will be given instructions on a special diet to follow so as to prevent infection, beginning with a liquid diet and slowly progressing to pureed foods and eventually to solid foods. You may need to take a full week off work and should avoid exercise for six weeks. You may experience several weeks or months of swelling in the chin area. Any temporary numbness or tightness should resolve within a few months. You must carefully follow all of Mr Gwanmesia’s postoperative instructions to ensure a smooth recovery free of complications.

Scars

The incision for all genioplasty procedures is hidden in the gum line and closed with absorbable sutures. There will be no visible scarring after your procedure.

Pain

Anaesthesia prevents any pain during your genioplasty procedure. During recovery, you may experience some discomfort or pain for several days. Oral pain medications may be taken to alleviate discomfort as you heal.

*Results may vary from patient to patient. There is no guarantee of outcome.

Patient Testimonials

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Frequently Asked Questions

By looking at your profile in the mirror or in photos, it is often possible to tell whether your chin is small, recessed, or overly prominent. Draw a vertical line from the midpoint of your nose through the upper lip and extend it down to the chin area. This line is known as the “nose/upper lip/chin line.” In men, the most anterior aspect of the chin should touch this line, whereas in women, the most anterior part of the chin sits about 2mm behind the line. If the chin is more posterior or anterior in relation to the line, you may be a candidate for genioplasty.

The decision to use chin implants or undergo a genioplasty remains debatable. However, experience dictates that when the required advancement of the chin is 4mm or greater, then genioplasty is more appropriate. Many surgeons offer chin implants for all patients who need chin augmentation because they lack experience with other genioplasty techniques. As a skilled reconstructive and craniofacial surgeon, Mr Gwanmesia is highly experienced in performing both sliding genioplasty and chin augmentation with an implant. He can recommend the appropriate technique for you based on your needs.

Most swelling is no longer noticeable by just one week after chin augmentation with an implant. After sliding genioplasty, most of the swelling usually resolves within the first couple of weeks. The rest of the swelling takes anywhere from a few weeks up to three months to fully resolve.

Oral hygiene after genioplasty is especially important because the incision is placed along the gum line. Using mouthwash after eating and every four hours maintains good oral hygiene for the first week after genioplasty. This also helps prevent the development of an infection.

If an infection develops, the genioplasty plate will need to be removed. If this happens soon after surgery, the divided bones may not heal properly, and this can lead to other complications. Contact Mr Gwanmesia right away if you believe you may have an infection.

Maintaining good oral hygiene after genioplasty is very important. For the first three days after surgery, it is best to remain on a liquid diet. After three days, introduce pureed foods for up to a week. After this period, you can slowly reintroduce solid foods.

As with any surgical procedure, complications can develop with genioplasty. These include swelling, infection, bruising, numbness around the chin area, and injury to the mental nerves. There is a slightly increased risk of infection with chin implants because the implant is foreign to the body. A chin implant may also shift after insertion, which is part of the reason why sliding genioplasty is more often recommended for chin augmentation. Rarely, patients experience permanent numbness in the chin area. Great care is taken to avoid this and not to damage the two mental nerves that come out of the jaw bone between the canine and the first premolars.

Sliding genioplasty can be reversed, but not without huge risks of causing further damage to the surrounding soft tissues and bone. Patients should not undergo chin surgery unless they are looking for a permanent change.

The results of chin surgery are permanent. The balance of the chin and lower third of the face will be forever improved in relation to the middle third and upper third of the face. Your facial structure and overall attractiveness can be greatly enhanced through genioplasty.

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